THE BREAKWATER will be in bookstores in April 2026

---

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE BREAKWATER:

“A vivid, earthy tale of two brothers whose lives are sundered by love, lust, and the need to simply survive. Shimotakahara takes us from the seedy back alleys of pre-war LIttle Tokyo and Chinatown, where gangsters, swindlers and madams meet, to the tumble-down shacks of an internment camp. All along, she immerses us in the rueful memories of her misbegotten souls.” Kerri Sakamoto, author of Floating City and Governor General’s Award finalist, The Electrical Field 

“Leslie Shimotakahara shines a light on a shameful and complex time in Canadian history and explores the personal impacts of the Japanese Canadian experience during World War II and the generational trauma that follows when people are forced into impossible situations. The novel’s complex themes of survival, family, and sacrifice are further enriched by points of view from several characters. Each veritable account adds pieces to a larger family puzzle that comes together to reveal unsettling secrets, buried passions, and the lingering generational tensions that inevitably follow. Shimotakahara’s brilliant use of understated prose perfectly captures the depth and poignant realities of her principal characters and immerses readers in a page-turning read.” Ann Y.K. Choi, author of All Things Under the Moon and Toronto Book Award finalist, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety

"[T]he scars of Japanese internment mixed with long held family secrets make for an enthralling, captivating story. Expertly told, the novel speaks to what we search for at the end of our lives, what we strive to fix, the chapters we’ve hidden from others, and most devastating of all, the self-deceptions that have sheltered us from our personal guilt." Rajinderpal S. Pal, author of However Far Away 

"Stories like The Breakwater provide an important historical Canadian context for minority groups by vividly exploring the effects of racism and unjust government actions." Art Miki, author of Gaman – Perseverance: Japanese Canadians’ Journey to Justice, winner of the Canada-Japan Literary Prize

PRAISE FOR SISTERS OF THE SPRUCE:

"[A] novel of perspicacious observation ... Contrasting family loyalties with a girl's propulsive yearning for independence, Sisters of the Spruce is a captivating historical novel." Foreword Reviews 

"Shimotakahara's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this evocative tale of adventure, survival, and the enduring bonds of kinship." Cha: An Asian Literary Journal 

PRAISE FOR RED OBLIVION:

"A heartbreaking story in which the past haunts the present and bleeds into the future ... Shimotakahara shows virtuosity in this subtle deconstruction of one family's tainted origins." Kirkus Reviews 

"Fans of literary fiction will enjoy this compelling story."  Library Journal 

PRAISE FOR AFTER THE BLOOM:

"Shimotakahara's writing is personal and entrancing, unflinchingly shining a light on this difficult part of history."  Booklist (starred review) 

"A deep and beautiful story … Poetically told and laced with Japanese folklore, the novel takes cues from a more mythical narrative, parables abounding in its fiction but always with a point … Shimotakahara joins a rank of garlanded Canadian authors." National Post